GOLDEN FLEECE: Not fleeced, superbly fed

Golden Fleece

February 2010

GOLDEN FLEECE,

41 Oldham Road,

Denshaw

01457 874910

THE snow hadn't gone but the roads were at least passable again and we were contemplating where to go for a Saturday evening meal.

Mrs W was leafing through the pages of that night's Chronicle when she came upon the story of how Mark Flynn, landlord of the Golden Fleece at Denshaw, had come to the rescue of the snow-locked local by baking bread and delivering meals locally.

"Isn't that a fantastic effort - let's hope the locals are there for the Fleece when the snow has all gone away," said Mrs W and the germ of an idea for a campaign to help local restaurants was born.

Living as we do in Shaw, we drove up Buckstones Road - witnessing the towering walls of snow at firsthand - and slithered onto the car park opposite the Fleece.

The car would be staying the night as we had gone with friends and they too are partial to a drink or three. The last time we were here was in the previous incarnation of Rainey's.

Now the dining is at entry level with downstairs used as overflow. It's warm, inviting and friendly and after ordering drinks we were astounded to find the menu was a bargain £19.95 for two courses - and that included a bottle of wine EACH!

The staff were swift to point out that they were more than happy to leave the wine unopened if you wanted to take it home.

We were all keen to sample the full three-courses (it's still only an extra £4 for that) but could not resist the extra appetiser section on the menu that just drew us all in. In the end we went for a platter of home-made breads - no wonder the locals loved them so much in their hour of need - with dipping pots (£3) and tear n share garlic loaf with cheese and red onion (£2.95).

There was something of a feeding frenzy and, in truth, it turned out we could and should have done without it, but boy was it good.

With orders taken and more drinks ordered, we were then shown to our table for the evening and our starters arrived immediately.

Of the five starters, I had gone for English onion soup, totally different from the French variety, thicker, more creamy yellow in colour and a fine choice while chicken skewers with a mint raita was Mrs W's preference and she found that suitably light after the breads.

For main course, from a choice of nine, she then had open top cheese and red onion pie with chunky chips and salad while I had opted for Gloucestershire Old Spot pork with baked apple and potatoes.

While the pie definitely got the vote from Mrs W I think mine might well have come out on top had there been some accompanying vegetables. Side dish options for an extra cost, maybe? Just a thought.

It was a tough choice from the five desserts but we were impressed by bread and butter pudding with marmalade and custard and a home-made rice pudding with a large blob of jam. As if that wasn't enough of a top-value evening, we even got a couple of sessions of entertaining singer Brendan Decko thrown in for good measure.

The Fleece under Mark and Angela and the 'Chefology' group banner, is now about good food and a real value for money. They are doing their bit, and other initiatives like breakfasts and theme nights give something more to the customers.

Come to think of it, we forgot to take our spare bottle home - but we had had more than enough by the time our lift arrived and we headed off through the fog after a top night out. Fancy PaddyÕs Night could be a real hoot. Well recommended.